John 18

The Arrest of Christ

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, Whom are you seeking?5 They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth.6 Now when He said to them, I am He, they drew back and fell to the ground.7 Then He asked them again, Whom are you seeking? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priests servant, and cut off his right ear. The servants name was Malchus.11 So Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?

First Jewish Trial Before Annas

12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, You are not also one of this Mans disciples, are you? He said, I am not.18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.20 Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Do You answer the high priest like that?23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?

Second Jewish Trial Before Caiaphas

24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, You are not also one of His disciples, are you? He denied it and said, I am not!26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, Did I not see you in the garden with Him?27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

First Roman Trial Before Pilate

28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.29 Pilate then went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this Man?30 They answered and said to him, If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.31 Then Pilate said to them, You take Him and judge Him according to your law.32 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, Are You the King of the Jews?34 Jesus answered him, Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.37 Pilate therefore said to Him, Are You a king then? Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.38 Pilate said to Him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I find no fault in Him at all.

Second Roman Trial Before Pilate

39 But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?40 Then they all cried again, saying, Not this Man, but Barabbas! Now Barabbas was a robber.

JOHN 18

Jesus Is Betrayed //and Arrested

(Matthew 26.47-56; Mark 14.43-50; Luke 22.47-53)

1 When Jesus had finished praying, he and his disciples crossed the Kidron Valley and went into a garden.t

2 Jesus had often met there with his disciples, and Judas knew where the place was.

3-5 Judas had promised to betray Jesus. So he went to the garden with some Roman soldiers and temple police, who had been sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees. They carried torches, lanterns, and weapons. Jesus already knew everything that was going to happen, but he asked, “Who are you looking for?”
They answered, “We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth!”
Jesus told them, “I am Jesus!”t

6 At once they all backed away and fell to the ground.

7 Jesus again asked, “Who are you looking for?”
“We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth,” they answered.
8 This time Jesus replied, “I have already told you that I am Jesus. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go.

9 Then everything will happen, just as I said, ‘I did not lose anyone you gave me.’ ”
10 Simon Peter had brought along a sword. He pulled it out and struck at Malchus, the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

11 t Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away. I must drink from the cupt that the Father has given me.”

Jesus Is Brought to Annas

(Matthew 26.57,58; Mark 14.53,54; Luke 22.54)

14 t This was the same Caiaphas who had told the Jewish leaders, “It is better if one person dies for the people.”

Peter Says He Doesn't //Know Jesus

(Matthew 26.69,70; Mark 14.66-68; Luke 22.55-57)

17 but asked him, “Aren't you one of that man's followers?”
“No, I am not!” Peter answered.

18 It was cold, and the servants and temple police had made a charcoal fire. They were warming themselves around it, when Peter went over and stood near the fire to warm himself.

Jesus Is Questioned //by the High Priest

(Matthew 26.59-66; Mark 14.55-64; Luke 22.66-71)

21 Why are you questioning me? Why don't you ask the people who heard me? They know what I have said.”

22 As soon as Jesus said this, one of the temple police hit him and said, “That's no way to talk to the high priest!”
23 Jesus answered, “If I have done something wrong, say so. But if not, why did you hit me?”

24 Jesus was still tied up, and Annas sent him to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Again Denies //that He Knows Jesus

(Matthew 26.71-75; Mark 14.69-72; Luke 22.58-62)

25 While Simon Peter was standing there warming himself, someone asked him, “Aren't you one of Jesus' followers?”
Again Peter denied it and said, “No, I am not!”

26 One of the high priest's servants was there. He was a relative of the servant whose ear Peter had cut off, and he asked, “Didn't I see you in the garden with that man?”

27 Once more Peter denied it, and right then a rooster crowed.

Jesus Is Tried by Pilate

(Matthew 27.1,2,11-14; Mark 15.1-5; Luke 23.1-5)

28 It was early in the morning when Jesus was taken from Caiaphas to the building where the Roman governor stayed. But the crowd waited outside. Any of them who had gone inside would have become unclean and would not be allowed to eat the Passover meal.t

29 Pilate came out and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30  t They answered, “He is a criminal! That's why we brought him to you.”

31 Pilate told them, “Take him and judge him by your own laws.”
The crowd replied, “We are not allowed to put anyone to death.”

32 t And so what Jesus said about his deatht would soon come true.

33 Pilate then went back inside. He called Jesus over and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own or did someone tell you about me?”

35 “You know I'm not a Jew!” Pilate said. “Your own people and the chief priests brought you to me. What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn't belong to this world. If it did, my followers would have fought to keep me from being handed over to our leaders. No, my kingdom doesn't belong to this world.”

37 “So you are a king,” Pilate replied.
“You are saying that I am a king,” Jesus told him. “I was born into this world to tell about the truth. And everyone who belongs to the truth knows my voice.”

38 Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?”

Jesus Is Sentenced to Death

(Matthew 27.15-31; Mark 15.6-20; Luke 23.13-25)

39 And since I usually set a prisoner free for you at Passover, would you like for me to set free the king of the Jews?”
40 They shouted, “No, not him! We want Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a terrorist.t